recommendations for scissors for blister packs

[BTL-A4]

I'd like to get some scissors to open plastic packaging. Tin snips are not working for me. I've seen offset scissors that seem like they would work, but I thought I'd ask and see if anyone uses them and find out how well they work. Here are my choices:

Wiss, $10. 5-star reviews


Milwaukee, $16, 5-star reviews


Fiskars, $16 at my local hardware store, 4.5-star review


Thoughts and comments from anyone who's used these? I'll consider other brands and designs.

Thanks!

 

[BrandonV]

I just use trauma shears. They work pretty well.

 

[BroncoAZ]

My buddy in PA sent me a set of the Wiss, I really like them for everything I’ve tried including blister packaging.

 

[whateg01]

I like my bandsaw. No joke.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Pick one.

 

[bluedog225]

Carpet knife with a good blade.

 

[BTL-A4]

Pick one.

I've tried these and they don't work for me. The plastic with the sharp edge goes right into my hand.

 

[BTL-A4]

Carpet knife with a good blade.

I have one of those. If I can get it into the plastic it works, but it doesn't work great for cutting along the edge where the heat melted the plastic together.

 

[Jswain]

Good sewing scissors seem to cut better then any scissors I've ever tried before. YMMV

 

[RTM]

I have a vintage pair of Wiss, shaped like the MKE above. Nothing stops them, cardboard, carpet, blister packs. Enough beef to eat them all.

Show us your Shears, Scissors, and Secateurs!

Singer pinking shears made in Germany, and SMIC.S.S made in China

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Kenstone1]

I use a can opener...
jmo,
.
Edit: or this if you are a tool hoe:

Amazon.com

 

[tincanoe]

Engineer PH-56 $14.87 on Amazon, or about half that if your putting together a Amazon Japan order where shipping would make sense.

 

[whateg01]

.., but it doesn't work great for cutting along the edge where the heat melted the plastic together.

Then don't cut there! Cut in the big flat areas. Cut along the corner where the plastic rises up to go over the item contained within. Cut somewhere else. If the carpet knife doesn't have a pointy enough point, use another knife to pierce the plastic, then finish the job with the carpet knife. Biggest word of caution with a knife of any kind is make sure when it breaks through the last bit of plastic, make sure it's pointed somewhere safe. Otherwise, I've used trauma shears before and they do keep your hand away from the sharp plastic edges. If I'm in the house I just use a sharp utility knife, but in the shop, I still use the bandsaw.

 

[sparky 1971]

I can't get my fingers in 99% of scissors so I use these almost exclusively and have them in my service truck, shop, at my desk, and another pair in the kitchen hidden from my wife.

www.menards.com/main/tools/hand-tools/shears-snips-bolt-cutters/clauss-reg-8-titanium-bonded-reg-snips/20462/p-1642874297632050-c-1550852385007.htm?exp=false

 

[bluedog225]

I have one of those. If I can get it into the plastic it works, but it doesn't work great for cutting along the edge where the heat melted the plastic together.

I usually start in the middle and cut out. Seems easier and safer.

 

[teagueo]

I like my bandsaw. No joke.

This is GJ. Wire EDM or nothing

 

[Ohio Andy]

Yes, the wiss work well

Wiss - Pro Shear, Heavy Duty, Tradesman, Titanium (CW10TM), multi, one size

Amazon.com

I have subs from Wolf made in USA that work better but more expensive. Let me know if you want links to those... I can't grab that now.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Cutco. EXPENSIVE !

 

[jayemm]

I have these Kobalt scissors. They are $12.98 at Lowes. Cut plastic packaging like butter.

 

[rancherbill]

Hahaha $12, $15, $19 scissors are a joke.

Get real scissors as have been mentioned already, or my Favorite CUTCO. As always with Amazon they will show you cheaper ones but this what real scissors cost.

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=cutco+sci...0&ref=pd_sl_5nouuun3ux_e&tag=atomicindus04-20

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

I use a pair of Fiskars Amplify mixed media shears in the 10 inch size. They'll cut nearly anything that isn't sheet metal.

 

[RangeBryan]

Klein, which purchased Heritage Cutlery a few years back and renamed it Klein Culery. Lots of made in USA options: https://www.kleincutlery.com/. Personal favorite is Klein G210LRK (10 = 10", LR= Large Ring, K = Knife Edge): $35 on Amazon. It makes those packages tremble in fear !

 

[RTM]

have subs from Wolf made in USA that work better but more expensive. Let me know if you want links to those... I can't grab that now

These work well also, but not as unstoppable as the Wiss, but easier to find. These reside in the kitchen

Wolff® 6294-LR 9 5/8" Ergonomix® Industrial Scissors - 6000 Series Sta

OverviewCut all types of light and heavy duty materials with the Wolff® Ergonomix® 9-5/8" 6000 series industrial scissors. The high-carbon 420 stainless steel blades provide extra long edge life and high cutting efficiency with a Rockwell hardness rating of approximately 58 – one of the hardest...

wolffindustries.com

Klein, which purchased Heritage Cutlery a few years back and renamed it Klein Culery. Lots of made in USA options: https://www.kleincutlery.com/. Personal favorite is Klein G210LRK (10 = 10", LR= Large Ring, K = Knife Edge): $35 on Amazon. It makes those packages tremble in fear

Those look pretty good also, for ease of purchase

 

[Rabid Badger]

I use these:

https://www.harborfreight.com/11-in-shop-shear-58490.html

 

[mike93lx]

Hahaha $12, $15, $19 scissors are a joke.

Get real scissors as have been mentioned already, or my Favorite CUTCO. As always with Amazon they will show you cheaper ones but this what real scissors cost.

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=cutco+sci...x_e&tag=atomicindus04-20&tag=atomicindus04-20

Lol. That's absurd

 

[Ohio Andy]

I find these wolf utility shears to be very nice, especially when I want to cut reasonably small things that are heavy. I think these other ones I have for a little over $30

The Wolff 7.5" Utility Shear - Wolff Industries, Inc.

Overview The 7-1/2" Wolff® Utility Shear was originally designed for cutting the toughest materials. This shear pattern has stood the test of time and is used to cut aramids, aerospace materials, hard to cut advanced textiles, leather, vinyl, cord, rope, and upholstery. Niche industries utilize...

wolffindustries.com

Also have one of their larger ones. I think it's 11 in and those things are really heavy duty but harder to make these sharp turns when I'm cutting the smaller heavy plastic stuff, but it'll go through almost anyway and those are about 75

 

[RTM]

I find these wolf utility shears to be very nice, especially when I want to cut reasonably small things that are heavy. I think these other ones I have for a little over $30

The Wolff 7.5" Utility Shear - Wolff Industries, Inc.

Overview The 7-1/2" Wolff® Utility Shear was originally designed for cutting the toughest materials. This shear pattern has stood the test of time and is used to cut aramids, aerospace materials, hard to cut advanced textiles, leather, vinyl, cord, rope, and upholstery. Niche industries utilize...

wolffindustries.com

I have a vintage Wiss utility shear like that, and don't like it for blister packs that much. My Wolff's get more use there, tho both are in easy range in the kitchen

 

[GeoBruin]

I bought some scissors for exactly this purpose. I still haven't been able to use them however, because I can't get them out of the package.

Seriously though, Harbor Freight has these Pittsburg scissors for $10 ($7 with the current coupon!). They work great for this application. They have a slight serration, and one blade has a little belly on it.

Edit: I forgot to mention, I also really like that these will fit in my pliers rack. Scissors with a loop handle are too tall.

 

[MichaelP]

The ultimate tool for this is an ironworker. I'm thinking about dedicating one just for this task. I wonder if a 100-ton capacity will be sufficent.

 

[mgeoffriau]

Olfa scissors, specifically these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001D3G51G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Heavy duty without being heavy or clunky like snips. Short blades so you can make sharp curved cuts with plenty of leverage. Micro-serrations so it cuts through thick plastic rather than sliding off backward. Great quality and only $12.

 

[Fedwrench]

SK 7 Inch heavy duty scissors. Drop forged blades. Although they've doubled from the $7.99 I paid, I think they're great for cutting plastic blister packs. If you don't like green grips, you can get the Duratec version with light blue grips. I think Last Best Tool did a You Tube video on them.

 

[BTL-A4]

Hahaha $12, $15, $19 scissors are a joke.

Get real scissors as have been mentioned already, or my Favorite CUTCO. As always with Amazon they will show you cheaper ones but this what real scissors cost.

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=cutco+sci...x_e&tag=atomicindus04-20&tag=atomicindus04-20

Over $200 for scissors. Thanks, but that's a bit much for me. My SIL sold Cutco for awhile. We bought some $50 frosting spreader from her. We still have it. Everytime we use it we mention how much it costs. I appreciate well-made items, but it seems like too much. What are these made of and what makes them so special, anyway? Not trying to be a jerk, I really want to know.

Here's some that were even more ($434!):

 

[BTL-A4]

I use these:

https://www.harborfreight.com/11-in-shop-shear-58490.html

I may try those to see if they work for me. I have plenty of scissors, they just don't work well for cutting open those damn blister packages. I think I need a different form factor (the offset blade).

 

[BTL-A4]

The ultimate tool for this is an ironworker. I'm thinking about dedicating one just for this task. I wonder if a 100-ton capacity will be sufficent.

Probably not, those blister packs are a PITA the open. Prevents theft .

 

[rooster59]

Aviation snips

 

[niget2002]

I use my kitchen chicken shears. If they can cut through bone, they can cut through plastic.

LIVINGO Kitchen Forged Shears Heavy Duty Come Apart Ultra Sharp Multi-function Stainless Steel Scissors Bottle Opener, Nut Cracker 8.5 inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0795FC36C?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[BTL-A4]

These work well also, but not as unstoppable as the Wiss, but easier to find. These reside in the kitchen

Wolff® 6294-LR 9 5/8" Ergonomix® Industrial Scissors - 6000 Series Sta

OverviewCut all types of light and heavy duty materials with the Wolff® Ergonomix® 9-5/8" 6000 series industrial scissors. The high-carbon 420 stainless steel blades provide extra long edge life and high cutting efficiency with a Rockwell hardness rating of approximately 58 – one of the hardest...

wolffindustries.com

The Wolffs look like a solid choice. Made in the US, too. Thanks!

 

[dnschmidt]

If you're going to take on Milwaukee battery packaging (those that know, know) you better be packing these: https://midwestsnips.com/product/power-cutters-offset-long-cut-aviation-snips-mwt-6516-2/

 

[FrankLee]

We've got a version of these. The offset blades work really good on welded plastic packaging.

Amazon.com

 

[BTL-A4]

I found these also:

Zibra Open-it, $17, 4.37 stars on Amazon:


Anyone ever try these? They look gimmicky, and don't seem like they could have any other purpose besides opening blister packs.